Basketball School of Medicine

I had wanted to blog about what a “NÂNÂ” is in Filipino Basketball. While I did find some English translations of the Pinoy term “NÂNÂ”, surprisingly (or maybe I did not look hard enough), I was unable to find one in the context of the sport.

“NÂNÂ” is the Tagalog (Filipino) translation of the English word “Pus” which – you got it – is “a yellow-white, more or less viscid substance produced by suppuration and found in abscesses, sores, etc., consisting of a liquid plasma in which white blood cells are suspended” (Dictionary.com).

Pus, as we all know, is painful and SENSITIVE TO THE TOUCH. Therefore, the offensive player who is called “NÂNÂ” is someone who frequently and embarrassingly calls TOUCHFOULS.

Touchfouls are frowned upon in pick-up basketball and applicable sports. Players who deliberately or non-deliberately use these to retain ball possession quickly become unpopular. The established “NÂNÂ” will even find it difficult at times to join a game.

The tricky part is when a “NÂNÂ” player actually believes he is being fouled every time he goes up for a shot or has possession of the ball. Their understanding is that the slightest contact merits a foul. This is where you will hear other ballers declare “NO BLOOD, NO FOUL”.